SNMMI News

Feb 13, 2018
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SNMMI's Cardiovascular Council and the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) have issued the joint position paper, Clinical Quantifcation of Myocardial Blood Flow Using PET, which was jointly published in the Journal of Nuclear Cardiology and The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Feb 6, 2018
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According to a study published in the February issue of Radiology, imaging specialists who have performed nuclear medicine exams appear to be at higher risk of developing cataracts. SNMMI and SNMMI-TS place the highest importance on the safety of nuclear medicine professionals and are monitoring this issue, as well as any other potential nuclear medicine-related health risks to professionals in the field.

Feb 5, 2018
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Using nuclear medicine, German researchers have found a way to accurately differentiate cancerous tissue from healthy tissue in prostate cancer patients. The research is highlighted in the February issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Feb 1, 2018
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A nuclear medicine scan may locate prostate cancer recurrence after radical prostatectomy early after disease recurrence and could help guide salvage radiotherapy, according to new research from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). The study, which utilizes PET/CT with gallium-68 prostate-specific membrane antigen (68Ga-PSMA-11), is documented in the featured article in the February issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Jan 31, 2018
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During SNMMI’s Mid-Winter Meeting in Orlando, Florida, both SNMMI and SNMMI-TS held leadership academies. These academies are building a cadre of physicians, scientists and technologists with strong leadership abilities who are taking on active roles in the society at the chapter and national levels, as well as within the nuclear medicine and molecular imaging community. Congratulations to all the new graduates!

Jan 25, 2018
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SNMMI has been working with state Technologist Advocacy Group (TAG) representatives to promote licensure and the new Nuclear Medicine Technologist Scope of Practice and Performance Standards. Read about recent successes and current efforts.

Jan 23, 2018
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With the temporary stoppage of Mo-99 production at South Africa’s NTP Radioisotopes and the unexpected shutdown of Australia’s OPAL reactor, the Association of Imaging Producers & Equipment Suppliers (AIPES) expects there could be an approximately 15-percent shortfall in Mo-99 to meet world demand over the next one-to-two weeks. The good news is that safeguards in place for the Mo-99 supply pipeline are working as anticipated to cover just such unexpected stoppages.

Jan 18, 2018
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The SNMMI Committee on Procedure Standards, chaired by Dominique Delbeke, MD, PhD, FSNMMI, is working with its counterpart at EANM and other partner organizations to update joint procedure standards and develop guidelines for new procedures.

Jan 16, 2018
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Jeri Francoeur has joined the SNMMI's Patient Advocacy Advisory Board, representing the Susan G. Komen Foundation. A breast cancer survivor who also lost a close friend to the disease, she is a passionate advocate for breast cancer research and funding, as well as patient education on treatment options.

Jan 9, 2018
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Kathy Thomas, MHA, CNMT, PET, FSNMMI-TS, is the new editor of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology (JNMT), which is published by the technologist section of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). She has taken over leadership of JNMT from Norman E. Bolus, MSPH, MPH, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS, and her five-year term begins January 2018.

Jan 8, 2018
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Researchers at the University of Louisville, Kentucky, have demonstrated that a new radiotracer, F-18-FDS, can identify and track bacterial infection in lungs better than current imaging methods and is able to differentiate bacterial infection from inflammation. The study is the featured basic science article in the January issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Jan 4, 2018
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SNMMI has published appropriate use criteria (AUC) for somatostatin receptor PET imaging in neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), addressing several clinical scenarios for diagnosing NETs. This AUC is part of a new series developed by SNMMI in its role as a qualified provider-led entity under the Medicare Appropriate Use Criteria Program for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging.

Jan 3, 2018
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The new total-body PET/CT scanner could revolutionize our understanding and treatment of disease through analysis of better imaging data from the whole body. In The Journal of Nuclear Medicine featured January article, scientists at the University of California, Davis, outline the development and benefits of this innovative diagnostic tool and explain how maximizing PET sensitivity will advance clinical research and patient care.

Dec 21, 2017
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Frederic H. Fahey, DSc, FSNMMI, and S. Ted Treves, MD, accepted the 2017 Butterfly Award on behalf of the Image Gently Nuclear Medicine Working Group at the recent Image Gently Alliance meeting. Congratulations to the Nuclear Medicine Working Group for its efforts to improve the radionuclide imaging of children through the right dose, given the right way to the right patient at the right time!

Dec 15, 2017
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Palmetto GBA, a Medicare administrative contractor, has agreed to make billing-policy changes that SNMMI requested regarding payment for wastage from single-dose vials of radiopharmaceuticals. These changes affect North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia now, and will apply to the states that Palmetto will take over in 2018 (Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee).

Dec 11, 2017
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SNMMI and other societies and organizations in the nuclear medicine community have sent joint letters to the U.S. Senate and House chairs and ranking members of the respective Subcommittees on Energy and Water Development of the Committees on Appropriations, voicing support for $67.4 million to secure a sufficient domestic supply of the medical isotope molybdenum-99 (Mo-99).

Dec 6, 2017
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In the December featured basic science article in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, Belgian researchers report on the first large-scale longitudinal imaging study to evaluate BACE1 inhibition with micro-PET in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease. PET imaging has been established as an excellent identifier of the amyloid plaque and tau tangles that characterize Alzheimer’s disease. Now it is proving to be an effective way to gauge treatment effectiveness.

Dec 4, 2017
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For prostate cancer patients who have rising levels of PSA (a cancer indicator) even after radical prostatectomy, early treatment makes a difference. In a study featured in the December issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, Australian researchers demonstrate that PET scans can identify which of these prostate cancer patients would benefit from salvage radiation treatment.

Nov 16, 2017
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The SNMMI Scientific Program Committee invites physicians, scientists, technologists, lab professionals, and educators/course directors working in the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging to submit original abstracts. DEADLINE: January 9, 2018, for all except technologist students (Their deadline is February 9).

Nov 8, 2017
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German scientists have developed a novel nuclear medicine test that can determine whether a kidney transplant patient has developed infection in the transplanted tissue. The study, which utilizes positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI), is presented in the November issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Nov 6, 2017
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Insights derived from FDG PET could improve treatment selection for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. The study is presented in the featured clinical investigation article of the November issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Nov 3, 2017
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"SNMMI: The Integral Thread – 2016 Annual Report" has received a MARCOM Platinum Award for excellence in communications and marketing. This recognition highlights the report’s successful representation of the innovative and collaborative nuclear medicine and molecular imaging research and clinical application process for which SNMMI is truly an integral thread.

Nov 2, 2017
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Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston have developed a new, three-step system that uses nuclear medicine to target and eliminate colorectal cancer. In this study with a mouse model, researchers achieved a 100-percent cure rate—without any treatment-related toxic effects. The study is reported in the November featured article in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Nov 1, 2017
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A number of SNMMI members served as commissioners and contributed to development of the report on Future Research Priorities in the USA, which sets out how to accelerate cancer research and care in order to reach the goals of the U.S. Cancer Moonshot initiative.

Oct 24, 2017
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SNMMI has published appropriate use criteria (AUC) for FDG PET/CT in restaging and treatment response assessment of malignant disease. As cancer patients move through therapy, FDG PET/CT has proven an effective tool for assessing treatment response and updating the stage of malignancy. This AUC aims to improve utilization and guide providers across specialties in its use.

Oct 23, 2017
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The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have established practical arrangements to cooperate on extending the reach of educational materials for nuclear medicine diagnostic and therapeutic applications. The agreement was signed at the 30th Annual Congress of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) in Vienna, Austria, on October 23, 2017.

Oct 20, 2017
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SNMMI’s Coding Corner provides the most up-to-date and comprehensive source for nuclear medicine coding and reimbursement information on the web.
In addition, the Coding and Reimbursement Q&A Section contains more than 120 questions and answers related to cardiology; NETS; oncology; PET, PET/CT and PET/MRI; pharmaceuticals and more. There’s also the option to ask new questions.

Oct 11, 2017
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The Southeastern Chapter of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SECSNMMI) presented Norman E. Bolus, MSPH, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS, with the Marshall Brucer Award, the highest honor that the chapter can bestow upon a member, during the SECSNMMI Annual Meeting, held October 6-8, 2017, in Birmingham, Alabama.

Oct 10, 2017
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The SNMMI-TS Leadership Academy has received the American Association of Medical Society Executives’ (AAMSE) 2017 Profiles of Excellence Award in the Leadership Category. The SNMMI-TS Leadership Academy, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, is a two-day course that hones the leadership and organizational skills of participants, helping them become more engaged and effective leaders at the regional and national levels.

Oct 10, 2017
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SNMMI’s new Radiation Safety+ Review and Essentials program provides a comprehensive overview of all aspects of radiation safety for nuclear medicine technologists preparing to take the NMTCB Radiation Safety Exam.

Oct 5, 2017
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Stanford University medical scientists have developed a novel imaging agent that could be used to identify most bacterial infections. The study is the featured basic science article in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine’s October issue.

Oct 4, 2017
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The “Hot Topic” article in the October issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine (JNM), titled Nuclear Medicine Training: What Now?, examines the role of nuclear medicine in the era of precision medicine and the need for training to evolve with the practice. An associated editorial presents an alternative view: “Is 16 Months of Specialized Nuclear Medicine Training Enough for Best Patient Care?” The two perspectives kick off a discussion that will unfold in coming issues of JNM.

Oct 3, 2017
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Therapy options are limited for men with advanced-stage, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, but a new treatment protocol offers hope. In the featured article of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine’s October issue, German researchers report on a new dosing regimen for actinium-225-labeled targeted alpha therapy of patients with prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-positive tumors. The protocol balances treatment response with toxicity concerns to provide the most effective therapy with the least side effects.

Sep 27, 2017
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To SNMMI members, colleagues and all affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, as well as the earthquakes in Mexico, we send our thoughts and prayers. SNMMI is reaching out to members in the impacted areas and has made a donation to relief efforts.

Sep 14, 2017
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"Abdominal Imaging 2017: Quality, Safety, & Dose Optimization" is the second installment in a series of books dedicated to a single nuclear medicine procedure or imaging category. The book is put out by the SNMMI-TS Publications Committee, and chapters cover imaging rationale, indications, contraindications, patient preparation and education, imaging procedure, processing, interpretation including normal and abnormal results, sensitivity/specificity/accuracy, and artifacts.

Sep 13, 2017
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The Journal of Nuclear Medicine’s September supplement shines a spotlight on theranostics and its increasingly important role in delivering precision medicine. Theranostics refers to the combination of a predictive biomarker, identified through diagnostic imaging using radiolabeled ligands, with precise therapy targeted on the now-marked cancer cells. The cancer cells are destroyed, while healthy cells are unharmed.

Sep 7, 2017
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Researchers have demonstrated a new, effective way to precisely identify and localize prostate cancer tumors while protecting healthy tissue and reducing side effects. The study is presented in the featured basic article of the September issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Sep 5, 2017
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Research highlighted in the featured article of the September issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine demonstrates that combined PET/CT scanning early in the treatment of advanced melanoma could identify whether immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy will benefit a particular patient. As the therapy has potentially serious side-effects, early determination of ineffectiveness could avert unnecessary risk exposure and provide the option of a different treatment.

Aug 29, 2017
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To SNMMI members, colleagues and all affected by Hurricane Harvey, we send our thoughts and prayers. We are deeply saddened by the flooding, devastation, and loss of life this storm has wrought. SNMMI is reaching out to members in the impacted areas of southeast Texas and Louisiana and will be making a donation to relief efforts.

Aug 24, 2017
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SNMMI is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2017-2019 SNMMI Wagner-Torizuka Fellowship. This two-year fellowship, founded in 2008 by the late Henry N. Wagner, Jr., MD, and the late Kanji Torizuka, MD, PhD, is designed to provide extensive training and experience in the fields of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging for Japanese physicians in the early stages of their careers. Applications for the 2018-2020 SNMMI Wagner-Torizuka Fellowship are due by January 20, 2018.

Aug 22, 2017
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Registration is now open for the 12th Congress of the World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology (WFNMB), which will be held April 20-24, 2018, in Melbourne, Australia. Early-bird rates apply until January 19, 2018.

Aug 18, 2017
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The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) and the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) have issued a joint consensus document on the role of F-18-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac sarcoidosis.

Aug 7, 2017
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In the featured translational article in the August issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, researchers at the University of Michigan demonstrate the potential of a new PET tracer, Carbon-11 labeled sarcosine (11C-sarcosine), for imaging prostate cancer, and set the stage for its possible use in monitoring other cancers.

Aug 3, 2017
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SNMMI has published appropriate use criteria (AUC) for hepatobiliary scintigraphy in abdominal pain. This is the third in a series of new AUC developed by SNMMI in its role as a qualified provider-led entity (PLE) under the Medicare Appropriate Use Criteria Program for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging. The other recently released AUC are for bone scintigraphy in prostate and breast cancer and for ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) imaging in pulmonary embolism.

Aug 2, 2017
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SNMMI recognized contributions to the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging during its 2017 Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado. Several awards ceremonies were held to recognize the valuable role SNMMI members play in advancing the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, cancer and neurological conditions.

Aug 1, 2017
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Yale University researchers have developed a way in which medical imaging could potentially be used to assess a patient’s rupture risk for abdominal aortic aneurysm. Delaying surgical treatment can be life-threatening, and this new type of imaging could allow physicians to diagnose disease and better plan its management. The study is presented in the featured article of the August issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Jul 31, 2017
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SNMMI's Continuing Education Program for physicians has received reaccreditation for four years from the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), based on its self-study report, evidence of performance-in-practice and the accreditation interview. Continuing education (CE) offerings must meet both public and professional needs, which are continuously changing in response to scientific and healthcare-delivery changes.

Jul 20, 2017
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The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s Technologist Section (SNMMI-TS) recognized contributions to and work in the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging during the SNMMI 2017 Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado, held June 10-14. Several awards ceremonies were held to recognize the valuable role that SNMMI-TS members play in advancing the discipline of nuclear medicine technology.

Jul 10, 2017
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Fluorine-18-fluoromisonidazole (FMISO) is a PET radiotracer that is widely used to diagnose hypoxia (insufficient oxygen supply to tissue), and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with FMISO uptake are known to face a poor prognosis. A multicenter French Phase II study featured in the July issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine investigated whether a selective radiotherapy dose increase to tumor areas with significant FMISO uptake in NSCLC patients could improve outcomes.

Jul 6, 2017
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Blood clots in veins and arteries can lead to heart attack, stroke, and pulmonary embolism, which are major causes of mortality. In the featured article of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine’s July 2017 issue, German researchers show that targeting GPIIb/IIIa receptors, the key receptor involved in platelet clumping, with a fluorine-18 labeled ligand is a promising approach for diagnostic imaging.

Jun 19, 2017
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David E. Kuhl, MD, a nuclear medicine pioneer who developed early prototypes of what was to become positron emission tomography (PET), died in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on May 28, 2017, at the age of 87.

Jun 15, 2017
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More than 5,000 physicians, technologists, scientists and exhibitors gathered for SNMMI’s 2017 Annual Meeting, held June 10-14 in Denver, Colorado. The meeting shined a spotlight on theranostics, featured Germany as the highlight country, showcased exciting new research results, introduced the new Value Initiative, announced the SNMMI Image of the Year, and more!

Jun 14, 2017
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In the battle against metastatic prostate cancer, the removal of lymph node metastases using image-guided surgery may have a high clinical impact on outcomes. Researchers at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) demonstrated preclinically that dual-labeled PSMA-inhibitors based on PSMA-11 enhance preoperative staging, using PET/CT followed by fluorescence-guided surgery. The combined approach results in more accurate detection of PSMA-positive tumor lesions.

Jun 14, 2017
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An estimated one in seven American men will be affected by prostate cancer in their lifetime. Prostate-specific molecular imaging gives these men a fighting chance, especially if their cancer returns, according to research revealed at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

Jun 14, 2017
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Simultaneous injections of the radiopharmaceuticals fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) and 18F-sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) followed by quantitative scanning significantly improves image quality and detection of bone metastases at a lower dose, according to research presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

Jun 13, 2017
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Norman E. Bolus, MSPH, MPH, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS, program director and assistant professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Health Professions Clinical and Diagnostics Sciences Department for the Master of Science in Nuclear Medicine Technology Program and interim program director of the Master of Science in Health Physics Program in Birmingham, Alabama, has been elected as the 2017-18 president-elect of the Society of SNMMI-TS.

Jun 13, 2017
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A first-in-human study presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) demonstrates the feasibility and safety of the novel human monoclonal antibody HuMab-5B1 with highly specific targeting for the cancer antigen (CA) 19-9, which is expressed on pancreatic tumors and a variety of other malignancies, including small cell lung cancer and tumors of the gastrointestinal system.
It holds the promise of better identifying tumors and directing treatment.

Jun 13, 2017
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Kathleen M. Krisak, BS, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS, a nuclear medicine technologist at the Holyoke Medical Center, Holyoke, Mass., has been elected as the 2017-18 president of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Technologist Section (SNMMI-TS). The new slate of officers was introduced during the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s (SNMMI) 2017 Annual Meeting, June 10-14 in Denver, Colorado.

Jun 13, 2017
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Identifying Alzheimer's disease before major symptoms arise is critical to preserving brain function and helping patients maintain quality of life. A new study presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) demonstrates that a single dual time-point PET scan could identify important biomarkers of Alzheimer’s.

Jun 12, 2017
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Bennett S. Greenspan, MD, MS, FACNM, FACR, professor of radiology at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, in Augusta, GA, has assumed office as 2017-18 president of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). SNMMI introduced a new slate of officers during its 2017 Annual Meeting, June 10-14, in Denver, Colorado.

Jun 12, 2017
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Neuroendocrine cancer is exceedingly difficult to manage and unlikely to be cured, but researchers intend to slow progression of these tumors and aid survival by personalizing patient dose of peptide-receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT), according to research presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

Jun 12, 2017
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Satoshi Minoshima, MD, PhD, professor of radiology and chairman of the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, has assumed office as 2017-18 president-elect of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). SNMMI introduced a new slate of officers during its 2017 Annual Meeting, June 10-14 in Denver, Colorado.

Jun 12, 2017
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The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging recognized seven new SNMMI Fellows during a Special Plenary Session at the society’s 2017Annual Meeting, held June 10-14 in Denver, Colorado. The SNMMI Fellowship was established last year to recognize distinguished service to the society as well as exceptional achievement in the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging.

Jun 12, 2017
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Vasken Dilsizian, MD, professor of radiology and medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and chief of the Division of Nuclear Medicine at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland, has assumed office as 2017-18 vice president–elect of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). SNMMI introduced a new slate of officers during its 2017 Annual Meeting, June 10-14, in Denver, Colorado.

Jun 11, 2017
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Researchers presenting a preclinical study at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) demonstrated the efficacy and optimal dose for targeted photodynamic therapy (tPDT) to treat prostate cancer before and during surgery.

Jun 11, 2017
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A new study shows that a hybrid molecular imaging system unites three imaging modalities to map the composition of dangerous arterial plaques before they rupture and induce a major cardiac event. The research was presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

Jun 11, 2017
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A study presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) reveals how brain receptors involved in the compulsion to drink, adapt to alcohol-dependency by reducing their bioavailability, but return to their normal availability after a modest period of detoxification. Receptor availability at the outset of sobriety could also serve as a predictor of long-term success.

Jun 11, 2017
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Joanna S. Fowler, PhD, senior chemist emeritus of the Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York; special volunteer at the National Institutes of Health; emeritus professor in the Department of Chemistry, Stony Brook University; and adjunct professor in the Psychiatry Department, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, has been named this year’s recipient of the Georg Charles de Hevesy Nuclear Pioneer Award for her contributions to nuclear medicine. Fowler was presented the award by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) during its 2017 Annual Meeting, June 9-14 in Denver, Colorado.

Jun 11, 2017
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Martin G. Pomper, MD, PhD, director of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging and professor in the Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, has been named the 2017 recipient of the prestigious Paul C. Aebersold Award. Pomper was presented the award by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) during its annual meeting, held June 10-14 in Denver, Colorado.

Jun 11, 2017
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At the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) Annual Meeting, Julian E. Bailes, MD, a recognized leader in the field of neurosurgery and the impact of brain injury on brain function, announced new grant funding programs of up to $25 million for research on traumatic brain injury (TBI) and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

Jun 7, 2017
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In an article published in the June 2017 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, researchers assert that exposure to medical imaging radiation not only doesn’t increase an adult person’s risk of getting cancer, it doesn’t increase a child’s risk. According to the authors, the long-held belief that even low doses of radiation, such as those received in diagnostic imaging, increase cancer risk is based on an inaccurate, 70-year-old hypothesis and leads to unnecessary fear and misdiagnoses.

Jun 6, 2017
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National Decision Support Company and the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging announced today that they have entered an agreement to make the SNMMI Imaging Appropriate Use Criteria available to referring physicians and other medical providers.

Jun 5, 2017
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Using PET/MR imaging, a new international study featured in the June issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine demonstrates that increases in partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) can safely and efficiently widen blood vessels of the heart during stress tests to help determine heart function.

Jun 1, 2017
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Breast-conserving surgery is the primary treatment for early-stage breast cancer, but more accurate techniques are needed to assess resection margins during surgery to avoid the need for follow-up surgeries. Now, in a first-in-human study, British researchers have provided a possible solution using Cerenkov luminescence imaging (CLI), which combines optical and molecular imaging. The study is covered in the featured article of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine’s June 2017 issue.

May 30, 2017
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The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging has submitted testimony to the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services supporting increased funding in 2018 for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The subcommittee will meet June 9, 2017.

May 25, 2017
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The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) has endorsed SNMMI’s recently released appropriate use criteria (AUC) for ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) imaging in pulmonary embolism (PE). This is significant as emergency room physicians are the primary audience for this critically important procedure to diagnose or rule out PE.

May 18, 2017
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The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s 2017 Annual Meeting will be held in Denver, Colorado, June 10-14. It will bring together more than 5,000 physicians, technologists, scientists and exhibitors from around the globe to share and learn about cutting-edge research, advance their knowledge through continuing education sessions, and network.

May 15, 2017
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The American College of Radiology (ACR) and SNMMI have issued a joint credentialing statement for physicians responsible for the oversight and interpretation of PET/MRI examinations of the body (head and neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, skeleton, extremities). It is now available in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine online and will be published in the July issue.

May 10, 2017
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Researchers in The Netherlands have demonstrated that combining SPECT/CT and fluorescence imaging could help surgeons differentiate tumor tissue from normal tissue. The research is detailed in the featured basic science article of the May 2017 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

May 8, 2017
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Experts in traumatic brain injury and chronic traumatic encephalopathy gathered in Dallas, Texas, on May 6-7 for the Brain SAFTIE (Scanning to Assess For Traumatic Injury and Encephalopathy) Symposium. The participating physicians and scientists gave presentations on the current state of research in the field, identified gaps in existing knowledge, and discussed ways to address these gaps moving forward.

May 2, 2017
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In this first ever molecular drug-imaging study in children, researchers in The Netherlands used whole-body PET/CT scans to determine whether bevacizumab (Avastin) treatment of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma in children is likely to be effective. The study is featured in the May 2017 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

May 1, 2017
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SNMMI has released appropriate use criteria for ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) imaging in pulmonary embolism. This is the second in a series of new AUC developed by SNMMI in its role as a qualified provider-led entity (PLE) under the Medicare Appropriate Use Criteria program for advanced diagnostic imaging.

Apr 19, 2017
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The American College of Nuclear Medicine (ACNM) and Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging are offering a joint webinar, part of a series that is free to full and associate SNMMI members, on “PET/CT of the Skeleton – Using CT Findings to Increase the Specificity of PET” on April 26, 2017 at 12 pm EDT.

Apr 7, 2017
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In an article published in the April issue of “The Journal of Nuclear Medicine,” researchers at Stanford University in California provide a template for assessing new positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracers that can accurately identify molecules in cancer cells that prevent the immune system from attacking the cancer.

Apr 6, 2017
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SNMMI has released a new appropriate use criteria (AUC) for bone scintigraphy in prostate and breast cancer, the two most common diagnoses for which bone scans are ordered in the adult population. This is the first in a series of new AUC developed by SNMMI in its role as a qualified provider-led entity (PLE) under the Medicare Appropriate Use Criteria Program for advanced diagnostic imaging.

Apr 1, 2017
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Researchers have used positron emission tomography (PET) to successfully identify genetic cell mutations that can cause lung cancer. The research, published in the featured article of the April 2017 issue of “The Journal of Nuclear Medicine,” shows that an advanced image analysis technique, radiomics, can non-invasively identify underlying cell mutations in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Mar 28, 2017
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The 3rd Annual “Hot Trot 5K” run/walk will take place in Denver, CO, on Saturday, June 10, at 7:00 am. Proceeds will support the Professional Development and Education Fund for SNMMI-TS and a local charity. New this year: a virtual option!

Mar 20, 2017
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Today, information is received through a variety of media. What social media excels at is providing immediacy and a network of colleagues. It’s evident that these channels provide valuable information, as SNMMI’s Facebook page now has more than 12,000 likes, and the SNMMI LinkedIn group has more than 11,000 members!

Mar 15, 2017
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Dirk (Dik) J. Kwekkeboom, MD, PhD, professor of nuclear medicine at Erasmus Univeristy in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, passed away March 8, 2017. An SNMMI member since 1998, he was considered one of Europe’s foremost experts on peptide receptor radiotherapy and was a frequent international speaker on neuroendocrine tumor imaging and lutetium-177 octreotate therapy.

Mar 6, 2017
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The featured clinical investigation article of the March 2017 issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine" demonstrates that the PET radiotracer fluciclovine (fluorine-18; F-18) can help guide and monitor targeted treatment for recurrent prostate cancer, allowing for individualized, targeted therapy.

Mar 1, 2017
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In the featured article of the March 2017 issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine," researchers demonstrate that a new positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer, gallium-68 (Ga-68)-pentixafor, can quickly and non-invasively identify life-threatening atherosclerotic plaques. The tracer binds to the CXCR4 receptor on inflammatory cells present in atherosclerotic plaques—making it possible to find and treat atherosclerosis early.

Feb 23, 2017
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Congratulations to the 2017-2019 interns for the Clinical Trials Network, councils and centers of excellence!The internships begin mid-June, at the end of the SNMMI 2017 Annual Meeting and provide young professionals (physicians, technologists, or scientists) the opportunity to get involved with the society at the council and center level.

Feb 15, 2017
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The APC for articles accepted for publication in "Molecular Imaging" (MIX) is waived for SNMMI members through the end of May. From June 1, 2017, forward, SNMMI members will receive a 50% discount.

Feb 6, 2017
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A study published in the February issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine" demonstrates the potential of extending peptide receptor radionuclide therapy targeting the somatostatin receptor to other types of malignancies beyond neuroendocrine tumors.

Feb 3, 2017
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SNMMI joins many other professional societies in the United States in asking President Trump to rescind his Executive Order restricting entry to America for individuals from certain countries. Read a message from SNMMI President Sally Schwarz, and see her letter to the President.

Feb 1, 2017
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In the featured article from the February 2017 issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine," researchers document the first-in-human application of a new imaging agent to help find prostate cancer in both early and advanced stages and plan treatment. The study indicates that the new agent—a PET radiotracer—is both safe and effective.

Jan 5, 2017
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A German multicenter study, initiated by the German Society of Nuclear Medicine, demonstrates that lutetium-177 (Lu-177)-labeled PSMA-617 is a promising new therapeutic agent for radioligand therapy (RLT) of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). The study is published in the January 2017 issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine" and is the featured article.

Jan 3, 2017
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Johannes Czernin, MD, has assumed leadership of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine" (JNM), the educational flagship publication of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). Czernin is a professor of molecular and medical pharmacology and the chief of the Ahmanson Translational Imaging Division at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Dec 5, 2016
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In nuclear medicine, the goal is to keep radiation exposure at a minimum, while obtaining quality images. Optimal dosing for individual patients can be difficult to determine. That’s where 3D-printed organ models of varying size and shape could be of great use. In a study reported in the December issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine," researchers at the University of Würzburg in Germany focused on kidneys to demonstrate that low-cost 3D printing techniques can be used for quantitative SPECT/CT imaging.

Dec 2, 2016
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New research demonstrates that a novel imaging agent can quickly and accurately detect metastasis of prostate cancer, even in areas where detection has previously been difficult. Published in the December issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine," the Phase 1 dose-escalation study of Zr-89-desferrioxamine-IAB2M (Zr-89-Df-IAB2M), an anti-PSMA minibody, in patients with metastatic prostate cancer shows its effectiveness in targeting both bone and soft tissue lesions.

Dec 1, 2016
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SNMMI President Sally Schwarz, MS, RPh, BCNP, is a co-commissioner on The Lancet Oncology’s Moonshot Commission, which was launched in response to the White House Cancer Moonshot Initiative. The Commission will deeply explore the underlying cancer burden and research landscape in the U.S. and propose specific research and funding priorities to help accelerate Moonshot plans. Schwarz is providing the Commission with insight on the key role of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging in the battle to defeat cancer.

Nov 17, 2016
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Working in concert, the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC), the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC)’s Nuclear/PET accreditation division and the Society of Nuclear Medicine in Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) are mandating optimized radiation doses in conjunction with the nuclear cardiology studies (i.e., myocardial perfusion imaging) performed throughout the United States and beyond.

Nov 10, 2016
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The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging is pleased to welcome Maria De León, MD, a neurologist, to its Patient Advocacy Advisory Committee. De León is living with Parkinson’s and is committed to increasing awareness of the disease, raising funds for research, and advocating for both patients and their caregivers.

Nov 9, 2016
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In addition to providing cutting-edge education at the SNMMI Mid-Winter and Annual meetings, CTN frequently presents at international conferences. Recent presentations were given at the Japanese Society of Nuclear Medicine in Nagoya, Japan, and the Theranostics World Congress in Melbourne, Australia.

Nov 9, 2016
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SNMMI sent informal comments to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in October asking that the VA modify its qualification standards for the practice of diagnostic CT. The VA has responded that it is aware of this issue and is actively working toward a resolution. It agrees that NMTs with certification should be able to perform advanced CT procedures.

Nov 9, 2016
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Minimal changes were made to the NMT Scope of Practice and Performance Standards approved in September 2016. The main change is clarification of SNMMI-TS support of the NMTCB(CT) credential. Efforts are currently underway to include MRI in future revisions of the NMT Scope of Practice and Performance Standards.

Nov 1, 2016
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Researchers at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia, have demonstrated that cardiac amyloidosis (abnormal deposits of proteins in the heart), which is notoriously difficult to diagnose, can be visualized noninvasively with positron emission tomography (PET) using the radiotracer fluorine-18 (F-18)-florbetaben. The study is published in the November issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

Oct 31, 2016
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SNMMI has just released a new two-hour online lecture and case review on "Clinical Diagnosis and Neuroimaging in Alzheimer’s Disease." This complimentary program offers two hours of CE credit for both physicians and technologists.

Oct 26, 2016
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The Best Radiology Image in this year's Minnies awards, recognizing excellence in radiology, examines two new PET radiotracers, gallium-68 PSMA-11 and gallium-68 RM2, to determine their effectiveness in identifying rising levels of PSA, which signals prostate cancer recurrence. The figure was shown at the 2016 SNMMI Annual Meeting and included in the highlights lecture.

Oct 20, 2016
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Reports from the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the OECD-NEA’s High-Level Group on the Security of Supply of Medical Radioisotopes (HLG-MR) both indicate a period of increased risk to the Mo-99 supply chain with Canada ceasing production. However, neither states that shortages will occur.

Oct 20, 2016
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Researchers at Stanford University have demonstrated for the first time the use of a dual optical and PET/CT activity-based probe, which images vascular inflammation, to detect atherosclerotic plaques. The study is published in the October issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

Oct 17, 2016
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The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released its final rule for the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA). MACRA ends the Sustainable Growth Rate formula for updates to the physician fee schedule, which threatened clinicians participating in Medicare with potential payment cliffs for 13 years. It replaces it with the Quality Payment Program, which rewards the delivery of high-quality patient care.

Oct 17, 2016
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Physician Compare allows clinicians and group practices to preview their performance scores for select 2015 Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) measures and Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) for PQRS measures before they are publicly reported on Physician Compare later this year.

Sep 19, 2016
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Cancer biologists know that inhibitor-mediated feedback loop changes (increased expression of a cell surface receptor in response to target inhibition) can result in breast cancer treatment failure and the need for additional therapy. A recent study by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City shows that imaging of these cell surface receptor changes with PET probes specific to epidermal growth factor receptor 1 (EGFR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3) directly addresses this unmet need in cancer therapy decision-making, while avoiding the need for repeated biopsies. The study is reported in the September issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

Sep 7, 2016
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Attention young professionals! Abstracts are now being accepted for the 2017 SNMMI Mid-Winter and ACNM Annual Meeting. Plus, learn how your abstract could get you selected to travel to China and participate in the Sino-American Exchange Program!

Aug 23, 2016
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SNMMI is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2016-2018 SNMMI Wagner-Torizuka Fellowship. This two-year fellowship, founded in 2008 by the late Henry N. Wagner, Jr., MD, and the late Kanji Torizuka, MD, PhD, is designed to provide extensive training and experience in the fields of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging for Japanese physicians in the early stages of their careers. Applications for the 2017-2019 SNMMI Wagner-Torizuka Fellowship are due by January 20, 2017.

Jul 28, 2016
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The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s Technologist Section (SNMMI-TS) recognized contributions to and work in the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging during the SNMMI 2016 Annual Meeting in San Diego, California. Several awards ceremonies were held to recognize the valuable role that SNMMI-TS members play in advancing the discipline of nuclear medicine technology.

Jul 13, 2016
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SNMMI recognized contributions to the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging during its 2016 Annual Meeting in San Diego, Calif. Several awards ceremonies were held to recognize the valuable role SNMMI members play in advancing the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, cancer and neurological conditions.

Jul 11, 2016
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A University of Michigan study published in the July issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine" reports that combining PET imaging with multi-parametric MR improves the accuracy of targeted prostate biopsies.

Jun 22, 2016
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SNMMI has been named a qualified provider-led entity under the Medicare Appropriate Use Criteria program for advanced diagnostic imaging. This will allow referring physicians to use SNMMI’s appropriate use criteria to fulfill the requirements of the 2014 Protecting Access to Medicare Act.

Jun 13, 2016
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Sara G. Johnson, MBA, CNMT, NCT, FSNMMI-TS, chief technologist/administrative officer and research coordinator for nuclear medicine with the VA San Diego Healthcare System in San Diego, Calif., has been elected as the 2016-17 president of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Technologist Section (SNMMI-TS). The new slate of officers was introduced during the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s (SNMMI) 2016 Annual Meeting, June 11-15 in San Diego, Calif.

Jun 13, 2016
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Kathleen M. Krisak, BS, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS, a nuclear medicine technologist at the Holyoke Medical Center, Holyoke, Mass., has been elected as the 2016-17 president-elect of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Technologist Section (SNMMI-TS). The new slate of officers was introduced during the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s (SNMMI) 2016 Annual Meeting, June 11-15 in San Diego, Calif.

Jun 13, 2016
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Satoshi Minoshima, MD, PhD, professor of radiology and chairman of the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, has assumed office as 2016-17 vice president-elect of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). SNMMI introduced a new slate of officers during its 2016 Annual Meeting, June 11-15, in San Diego, Calif.

Jun 13, 2016
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Sally W. Schwarz, MS, RPh, BCNP, professor of radiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo., has assumed office as 2016-17 president of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). SNMMI introduced a new slate of officers during its 2016 Annual Meeting, June 11-15, in San Diego, Calif.

Jun 13, 2016
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Bennett S. Greenspan, MD, MS, FACNM, FACR, professor of radiology at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, in Augusta, GA, has assumed office as 2016-17 President-elect of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). SNMMI introduced a new slate of officers during its 2016 Annual Meeting, June 11-15, in San Diego, Calif.

Jun 13, 2016
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H. William (Bill) Strauss, MD, FACNM, a pioneer in the field of cardiovascular nuclear medicine, was awarded the Benedict Cassen Prize, often considered the Nobel Prize of nuclear medicine, during the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) in San Diego, Calif. This honor is given every two years by the Education and Research Foundation for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (ERF) to a living scientist or physician-scientist whose work has led to a major advance in basic or clinical nuclear medicine science.

Jun 13, 2016
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The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) today announced a $2 million prize for development of a PET tracer to visualize the protein alpha-synuclein, the priority therapeutic target and biomarker candidate of Parkinson’s disease research.

Jun 13, 2016
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The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging announced the creation of an SNMMI Fellowship recognizing distinguished service to SNMMI as well as exceptional achievement in the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging. The announcement was made during today’s Special Plenary Session at the society’s 2016 Annual Meeting, held June 11-15 in San Diego, Calif.

Jun 12, 2016
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Peter S. Conti, MD, PhD, FACNP, FACR, professor of radiology, pharmaceutical sciences and biomedical engineering, and director of the Molecular Imaging Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, has been named the 2016 recipient of the prestigious Paul C. Aebersold Award. Conti was presented the award by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) during its annual meeting, held June 11-15 in San Diego, Calif.

Jun 12, 2016
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Ross McDougall, MB, ChB, PhD, professor emeritus of radiology and medicine at Stanford University, Stanford, Calif., has been named this year’s recipient of the Georg Charles de Hevesy Nuclear Pioneer Award for his contributions to nuclear medicine. McDougall was presented the award by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) at its 2016 Annual Meeting, held June 11-15 in San Diego, Calif.

Jun 7, 2016
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A recent pilot study reported in the June issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine" found that NaF-PET/CT accurately detects bone metastases in patients with advanced prostate cancer, and follow-up scans over time correlate clearly with clinical outcomes and patient survival.

May 9, 2016
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A recent study reported in the May issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine" demonstrates that Ga-68 DOTATATE PET/CT scans are superior to In-111 pentetreotide scans, the current imaging standard in the United States for detecting neuroendocrine tumors (NETS), and could significantly impact treatment management.

Apr 14, 2016
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A recent study reported in the April issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine" found that cervical cancer patients without enlarged lymph nodes could benefit from SPECT-MRI imaging of their sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) to assess whether metastases are present.

Mar 17, 2016
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Barry A. Siegel, MD, Professor of Radiology and Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine, has been named the recipient of the 2016 National Award of Nuclear Science & History.

Mar 1, 2016
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A recent study, reported in the March issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine," found evidence that genetic influence on cerebral glucose metabolism played a major role in the bilateral parietal lobes and the left temporal lobe of the human brain, while environmental influences after birth dominated in other regions.

Feb 11, 2016
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George E. Thoma, Jr., MD, a pioneer in the field of nuclear medicine and a former vice president of the St. Louis University medical center, died Jan. 31 of natural causes. He was the founding editor of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine," serving in that capacity from 1958 to 1970.

Jan 27, 2016
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A recent study, reported in the January issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine," shows in a prospective, systematic manner that a PET/CT scan, using the radiotracer F-18-DCFBC to target prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), is significantly more effective than other detection methods currently in use.

Dec 10, 2015
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PET/CT and whole-body MRI detect extraskeletal disease that may change the management of high-risk breast and prostate cancer patients, according to a recent study reported in the December issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Sep 17, 2015
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A recently developed drug was significantly better at detecting recurring prostate cancer in early stages, in research published in the August 2015 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Aug 17, 2015
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The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), an international scientific and medical organization, recognized contributions to the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging during its 2015 Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Md.

Aug 17, 2015
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The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s Technologist Section (SNMMI-TS)—an international scientific and medical organization—recognized contributions to and work in the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging during its 2015 Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Md.

Jun 29, 2015
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More than five thousand physicians, technologists, scientists and exhibitors gathered at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s (SNMMI) 2015 Annual Meeting, held June 6-10 in Baltimore, Md.

Jun 24, 2015
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A discussion is taking place that could change the course of the nuclear medicine profession. Your response is critical. If you have not already done so, please carefully review the following information and the two linked documents and respond as soon as possible.

Jun 8, 2015
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Aaron Scott, MIS, CNMT, NMAA, FSNMMI-TS, a nuclear medicine advanced associate at Piedmont Healthcare System in Fayetteville, Ga., has been elected as the 2015-16 president of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Technologist Section (SNMMI-TS). The new slate of officers was introduced during the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s (SNMMI) 2015 Annual Meeting, June 6-10, in Baltimore, Md.

Jun 8, 2015
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Hossein Jadvar, MD, PhD, MPH, MBA, FACNM, tenured associate professor of radiology and of biomedical engineering at the University of Southern California (USC), has been elected as the 2015-16 president of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). SNMMI introduced a new slate of officers during its 2015 Annual Meeting, June 6-10 in Baltimore, Md.

Jun 8, 2015
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Sally W. Schwarz, MS, RPh, BCNP, professor in radiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo., has assumed office as 2015-16 president-elect of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). SNMMI introduced a new slate of officers during its 2015 Annual Meeting, June 6-10, in Baltimore, Md.

Jun 8, 2015
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Neil A. Petry MS, RPh, BCNP, associate professor of radiology and medical physics graduate program faculty member at the Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC, has been elected director-at-large of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

Jun 8, 2015
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Sara G. Johnson, MBA, CNMT, NCT, FSNMMI-TS, research coordinator for nuclear medicine and a staff nuclear medicine technologist with the VA San Diego Healthcare System in San Diego, Calif., has been elected as the 2015-16 president-elect of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Technologist Section (SNMMI-TS). The new slate of officers was introduced during the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s (SNMMI) 2015 Annual Meeting, June 6-10 in Baltimore, Md.

Jun 7, 2015
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David W. Townsend, PhD, professor in the Department of Diagnostic Imaging at the National University Hospital of Singapore and director of the A*STAR-NUS Clinical Imaging Research Cen-tre in Singapore, has been named this year’s recipient of the prestigious Paul C. Aebersold Award. Townsend was presented the award by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) during its 2015 Annual Meeting, held June 6-10 in Baltimore, Md.

Jun 7, 2015
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Michael E. Phelps, PhD, the Norton Simon professor and chair of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Department of Molecular & Medical Pharmacology, has been named this year’s recipient of the Georg Charles de Hevesy Nuclear Pioneer Award for his contributions to nuclear medicine. Phelps was presented the award by SNMMI—an international scientific and medical organization—during its 2015 Annual Meeting, June 6-10 in Baltimore, Md.

May 7, 2015
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A new, noninvasive nuclear medicine test can be used to determine whether aromatase inhibitor treatment will be effective for specific cancer patients, according to a recent study reported in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

May 5, 2015
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SNMMI and the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) organized the Cardiovascular Molecular Imaging Think Tank: Devising Strategies to Bridge the Translational Divide, which took place April 16-17 at the ACC Heart House in Washington, DC.

May 4, 2015
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SNMMI is happy to report that Baltimore is now calm and things are returning to normal. The Inner Harbor area, where the SNMMI Annual Meeting will take place, has not been affected by the unrest. SNMMI is looking forward to a great meeting June 6-10.

May 4, 2015
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A recent study reported in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine compared use of the novel Ga-68-PSMA-ligand PET/CT with other imaging methods and found that it had substantially higher detection rates of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) in patients with biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy. Discovering a recurrence early can strongly influence further clinical management, so it is especially noteworthy that this hybrid PSMA-ligand identified a large number of positive findings in the clinically important range of low PSA-values (<0.5ng/mL).

Apr 27, 2015
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When actor Michael Douglas was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2010, he went through seven weeks of radiation and chemotherapy — “the seven circles of hell,” as he described it, a period marked by an inability to swallow, gum pain, loss of taste, dental pain.
Had he been diagnosed just a year later, Douglas might have benefited from molecular imaging, an emerging technology that allows doctors to precisely target a patient’s specific cancer cells.

Oct 30, 2014
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On October 27, 2014, SNMMI hosted a broad stakeholder meeting in Linthicum Heights, Md. The society brought in more than 40 experts from the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging to discuss the current regulatory climate.